Your paper is called Valley Reporter but, as of late, it seems that you are trying to compete with the "mainstream media" by writing your views on national and world issues at the expense of local news of importance.

For instance, last weekend there was a remarkable event which occurred at Sugarbush. Hosted by Win Smith and the resort, the New England Ski Museum celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Gate House by awarding skiing's foremost figure, the legendary Stein Eriksen, its first <MI>Spirit of Skiing Award<D>. It was also the kick-off of Sugarbush's 50th yearlong anniversary in 2008.

Thanks to Henri Borel, there was a small picture and a short caption of the ceremony towards the back of the issue. Ridiculous.

This milestone event brought back nearly 300 people with fond memories of days gone by when we were the East's most famous "ski town."

Even Mary Kerr, one of your original editors, was there enjoying this wonderful evening!

Thank you, Win and Sugarbush's staff, for organizing this well-organized and sold-out event. And many thanks, too, to Charlie Brown for an excellent film capturing many of those Stein-Sugarbush days. Terrific work, C.B.

Let's get back to reporting Valley news of importance and not forcing the world news and your political agenda down our throats, which you have been doing for the past few years. Reports about Waitsfield, Warren, Fayston and, yes, Moretown on the other end of The Valley should be your focus, with an eye, sometimes, on our marvelous skiing and other history.

In writing this, I know that my views are shared by the majority of your readers who also feel that the single Valley paper's single most responsibility and priority should be Valley news.

Harold C. (Hoover) Austin

Moretown

Editor's Note: The Valley Reporter is not trying to "compete with mainstream media" nor does The Valley Reporter cover national and world issues. The paper covers the events of the towns of the Mad River Valley in its reporting.